Windshield cleaner



March 1954 A. c. SCINTA ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER Original Filed March22. 1947 INVENTORS C jc/nta 0/21 Anton fiqga/ ATTORNEYS Anthony PatentedMar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDSHIELD CLEANERContinuation of application Serial No. March 22, 1947. This applicationJune Serial No. 364,046

2 Claims. 1

This application is a continuation of application No. 736,492 filedMarch 22, 1947, now abandoned.

This invention relates to the windshield cleaning art and primarily to awiper or blade for the well-known automatic windshield cleaningmechanism currently used on the modern car.

More particularly the invention relates to a cleaner for wiping thesurface of curved windshields and windows, the primary object of thepresent invention being to provide a wiper which will more effectivelyand uniformly wipe the curved surface.

It has heretofore been proposed to suspend a wiping member betweenspaced points of suspension, with the intermediate portion being givenflexible support and acting in tension upon the windshield surface. Thetensioned wiping edge would sometimes fail to effect a scrubbing actionand possibly override any accumulated vision-obscuring matter on thewindshield. This is due to the fact that the intermediate wiping portionhas no substantial backing for lending support thereto.

The present invention further has for its object to provide a wiper forcurved surfaces in which a wiping pressure would be more effectivelydistributed throughout the length of the wiping edge whereby a greaterefficiency could be secured in operation.

Further, the invention will be found to reside in a curved surface wiperwherein its pressure distributing super-structure is associated with acontinuous backing support for the wiping element in a manner to providea compactness and low sitting structure for reducing its surfaceexposure to the wind currents in minimizing the lifting tendency of thelatter and thereby in suring a more efiective wiping action.

The invention will also be found to reside in an improved constructionof wiper which is practical and one which will readily conform itself tothe surface being wiped.

The foregoing and other objects will manifest themselves as thefollowing description progresses, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a windshieldcleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken about on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a detailed view in side elevation,,with a part of the yokemember broken away to more clearly show its connection to the blade;

Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified arrangement;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view about on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the modified yokeconnection with the blade; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken in a planeimmediately beneath the back wall of the primary yoke.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l designates therubber or squeegee body of the blade, the same having a wiping edge 2along one margin which is preferably continuous from end to end. Theopposite margin of this molded rubber body may be enlarged as at 3 andprovided with opposite side faces 4 converging toward the wiping edge 2to thereby give the same a generally triangular cross sectional shape.The rubber body is provided with a, thin backing strip 5 of spring metalor the like, which backing strip has body embracing fingers 6 along itsopposite margins for clampingly gripping upon the converging faces 4.Outwardly beyond the fingers 6 the rubber body may be formed with sideribs 1 to give support to the relatively thin wiping edge 2 and at thesame time provide substantial thickness to the body where it may fold orbend over the outer ends of the fingers.

The wiper is attached to its carrying arm 8 by a suitable clip 9 and isdirectly supported by a pressure distributing frame or holder to whichthe clip is secured. The pressure distributing frame comprises a primaryyoke member I!) and plural secondary yoke members l2 pivotally orflexibly connected to the opposite ends of the primary yoke, as by pinsII. The opposite ends of each secondary yoke member are pivotallyconnected by pins I3 to the blade body, as by passing l the pins betweenadjacent fingers with sufficient clearance to provide ample play toaccommodate relative movement between parts as the wiping edge conformsitself to changes in surface contour of the curved windshield surfaceindicated by the numeral M. The rubber body may have its back marginnotched out, as indicated at Hi, to carry out the thought of this play.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the several yokes constitutea yoke assemblage in which the opposite ends of the wiping blade, aswell as the intermediate blade portion, are provided with longitudinallyspaced points of pressure application to which the pressure as providedby the arm spring I6 is distributed for,

urging the wiping edge into firm contact with the windshield surface.

By placing the pivotal connections ll closer to the outerendsof the:secondary yokes 12 there will be provided a differential yokearrangement in which greater pressure will be applied to the outerpoints 13 of pressure application relative to the intermediate points atthe adjacent-o1 inner ends of such secondary yoke members.

This differential yoke assemblage will therefore;

serve to apply heavier pressure at the opposite ends of the blade whileproviding a relatively lighter but positively applied 'pressureto theintermediate portion of the wiping edge. Therefore the wiping pressurewill'beyuniformly distributed throughout the entire:length of the bladefor greater efliciency in use.

In the modified showing of Fig. 4 the inner ends of the secondary yokemembers l2"are in the form of flat springs and are extended to cross oroverlap each other, as at IT, thereby affording a torque resistingstructure which will give to the intermediate blade portion propersupport against twisting between the remote points'of support. Theopposite ends of the secondary'yokes [2' are flexibly connected throughpin and slot means 13 to the backing strip 5, thereby affording sumcientplay to permit ample flexing of the blade as its wiping edge follows thewindshield curvature. In the'illustrated embodiment the pins or rivetsare positioned normal to the backing strip, with the several slotsbeingformed along the center line thereof. If desired, a second spring stripI8, l8 may underlie the backing strip to reinforce the same, andfor alike purpose the innerextremities of the secondary yokes maybe enlargedfor receiving the fasteners, as shown in Fig. 7. The secondary yokes areflexibly connected by pin and slot means I l" to the opposite ends ofthe primary yoke I8"to afford sufficient play between parts for surfaceconformance of the wiping edge. The secondary yoke fiat springcould-have its end portions separately fastened to' the primary yokesince its movement is a yielding one and its pressure applying arms areof relatively different strength and tension.

When wiping over a convex surface the back portion of the squeegee unitI, 5' willmove relative to the primary yoke l0 into the latter, and inthis connection it will be observed that the primary yoke is curvedlongitudinally and of channel shape in cross section, Fig. 5. The backportion of the squeegee unitis designedto have a movement of recessionwithin the channeled primary, this being permitted by the nestedrelation of the squeegee unit within the arcuate channel formation ofthe primary yoke. By reason of this nesting of the back portion of thesqueegee unit within-the channel of the-primary yokethepressure-distributing superstructure Ill, [2' will be broughtdown-closer to the wiping element I and thereby reduce the height of thewiper on the windshield. The low sitting superstructure provides forcompactness and reduces the upstanding surface area exposedto windcurrents to minimizethe lifting .tendency' of. the lat.- ter uponthe.wiper.- Whenmoving over a concave surface the back portionof the wiperwill have a movement in a direction outward of the primary channel.

Both forms of secondary yokesare so arranged with respect to-theirprimary-yokes that a differential pressure applying blade support is provided to"give='more uniformity:in*the distribution- 4 of the arm imposedspring pressure to the wiping edge. Obviously, this support willfunction on a plane surface as well as on a curved surface inefiicientlyydistributing thearm pressure; The squeege or rubber body maybe readily removed from the pressure differential support by simplysliding the body lengthwise from between the embracing, fingers '6 whenit is desired to replace the same with a new wiping edge. These fingerstogether-with thebacking strip '5, 5' form a seat for the squeegee body.At the same time I thesefingerstdo'notydetract from the flexibility ofthebacking strip since the fingers are free to moverelativeto eachother.

In'thet embodiment-of Figs. 4 through '7, the

' secondary:yokes zprovide transversely flat underfaceswhich-recedeintothe primary channel as thesecondaries carry the squeegee unit therewith,such flat underfaces moving closer to the transversely fiat bottom ofthe inverted channel to jointly form therewith a supporting surface forthe squeegee-unites its back portion recedes thereinto.

By reason-of the foregoing construction. and arrangement-,1 the innerends of the secondary yokesare disposed intermediate the outer ends ofthe primary yoke; The pressure differential provides for the applicationof alighter pressure at such intermediatepoints relative to the urgeimpressed upon the outer or opposite ends of the blade; This gives acontrolled distribution of the arm impressedurge', with such urge'beingpositively applied through the secondary yokes l2 and i2. The outer endsof the primary yoke are flexibly connected'by the pivot H in oneinstance and by the'pin' and slot connection H in the second instance-togive freedom of movement to the-bladein conforming its wiping edge tothe windshield-surface. Should occasion demand, a reversal of theleverdifferential may be obtained forgiving a relatively heavier pressure totheinte'rmediate portion of the blade as compared to that applied to theopposite ends thereof.

The connecting members 13' not only serve as torque-resisting members inthat they resist rotational movement of the backing strip but they alsoserveto hold the multiple leaves 5 and [8' in assembled relation therebyproviding a backing for the blade of leaf spring construction forgreater resiliency, one leaf only being formed with the blade grippingfingers B. These torqueresisting members i3 slidably support the backingstrip-upagainst the, underfaces of the ends of the secondary yokes toinsure a nesting relation of thebacking-strip-with the primary channelwhen passing over a convex surface. This nesting relation between theside walls of the primary channel affords lateral support for thesliding connection l3 and; further, it provides for a compact" wiperstructure with a minimum surface-exposure-to the cross wind currentswhich tend to lift the wiper off'the-glass.

While the foregoing description has been given in detail-it'is not'theintention to thereby limit the invention since' the inventiveprinciplesfim volved are capable of assuming'other physicalembodiments-'- without departing from the spirit of'the inventionand thescope of the appended claims.

What 'is claimed'is:

l. A windshield wiper for cleaning a curved surfacecomprisingasque'egeeunit includinga flexible bladeand-flexiblebackingfmans' thanfor, said blade 'comprisingawide'b'ack portion; a

first pair of opposite side faces extending downwardly from said backportion and converging inwardly toward each other, a pair of side ribsextending outwardly from the inner portion of said inwardly convergingside faces, a second pair of downwardly and inwardly converging sidefaces extending from the outer portion of said side ribs, and a wipingedge positioned below said second pair of converging side faces, saidbacking means including a first fiat resilient member overlying saidback portion of said blade and having a plurality of closely spacedfingers depending therefrom, and a second flat resilient member underlying said first resilient member, said fingers converging downwardlyand inwardly toward each other and clampingly embracing said first pairof depending side faces of said blade, said fingers terminating adjacentthe point of juncture between said first pair of side faces and saidribs of said blade, and means for applying pressure to said unit forconforming the same to the surface to be wiped, said pressure-applyingmeans including a primary member and plural secondary members secured tosaid primary member adjacent the ends thereof, said secondary membersbeing secured to said unit at longitudinally spaced points.

2. A windshield wiper for cleaning a curved surface comprising asqueegee unit including a flexible blade and flexible backing meanstherefor, said blade comprising a wide back mrtion, a first pair ofopposite side faces extending downwardly from said back portion andconverging inwardly toward each other, a pair of side ribs extendingoutwardly from the inner portion of said inwardly converging side faces,a second pair of downwardly and inwardly converging side faces extendingfrom the outer portion of said ribs, and a wiping edge positioned belowsaid second pair of converging side faces, said backing means includinga resilient member overlying said back portion of said blade and havinga plurality of closely spaced fingers depending therefrom, said fingersconverging downwardly and inwardly toward each other and clampinglyembracing said first pair of depending side faces of said blade, saidfingers terminating adjacent the point of juncture between said firstpair of side faces and said ribs of said blade, and means for applyingpressure to said unit for conforming the same to the surface to bewiped, said pressureapplying means including a primary member and pluralsecondary members secured to said primary member adjacent the endsthereof, said secondary members being of channel form in cross sectionand having end portions straddling said unit, and pivot pins extendingthrough said end portions and positioned between adjacent fingers ofsaid backing means with sufficient clearance between said adjacentfingers to provide ample play to accommodate relative movement betweensaid unit and said pivot pins as the wiping edge of said unit conformsitself to changes in surface contour of the curved surface being wiped.

ANTHONY C. SCIN'IA.

MARINE TRUST COMPANY OF- BUFFALO, NEW YORK, By J. G. HOLZMAN,

Assistant Vice-President. Executor of the last will and testament ofAnton Rappl, deceased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,596,063 Anderson May 6, 1952 2,634,446 1 Mackie et a1. Apr.14, 1953 2,649,605 Scinta et a1 Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 820,156 France July 26, 1937

